STATE OF ORIGIN: SLATER TAKES ONE FOR THE TEAM

BILLY Slater says he wasn’t willing to put Queensland’s Origin hopes at risk by playing with a hamstring injury.

The fullback’s withdrawal from tomorrow night’s series opener at the MCG had the Maroons in disarray.

Kalyn Ponga and Anthony Milford were flying to Melbourne last night as selectors considered their options to replace Slater at fullback.

Slater was to play his 30th game for the Maroons and join the elite Stateman’s Club, but the champion custodian pulled the pin yesterday morning after pulling up sore from a training session on Sunday.

“I’m extremely disappointed,” he said.

“It wasn’t until mid to late morning today that I caught up with the physio and doctor.

“I didn’t pull up as well as I wanted to from training.

“I’ve never had a hamstring injury before so I don’t have anything to measure it off.

“I went on the recommendation of the physio and the doctor and what was best for the team as well.

“You don’t want to miss out on any Origin game.

“I’ve made the mistake of playing while injured in the past and I certainly regret that.

“I wanted to make the right decision this time.”

Slater said there was no guarantee he would be fit for Origin II.

He had believed he was capable of playing tomorrow before consulting the medics.

“It was definitely today,” he said of his decision to withdraw. “I pulled up a bit tight from training but nothing too alarming. I wanted to see how it felt this morning and unfortunately we came up with the decision that it was best for me to pull out.

“It’s a tricky one because I don’t feel overly injured. There is a bit of tightness, it is slightly sore but it’s not a big strain.

“It’s in a position where if I do go out and play and [injure] it properly I could be out for a period of time. “I have played with pain before but it’s more the repercussions of playing with this strain.

“If I pulled up sore from a 40-minute training session, in an 80-minute Origin who knows what will happen.

“The last thing I want to do is go out there and 20 minutes in I have to come off and sit on the sideline and leave us down to 16 men.”